But during the first moments of the attack, Morita had to fight for himself.
He had only his own strength, his experience, and whatever movements he could manage while the shark held his leg.
And the animal was not letting go.
Chapter 2: A Tiger Shark in Honolulu's Waters
Witnesses described the shark involved in Morita's attack as a tiger shark measuring approximately seven feet, or 2.1 meters, in length.
Tiger sharks are among the large predatory fish found in Hawaiian waters.
They are recognizable for their broad heads, powerful bodies, and dark markings that resemble stripes, particularly in younger individuals.
The species is known for its wide-ranging diet.
Tiger sharks consume fish, rays, sea turtles, seabirds, and other marine animals.
Their teeth are strongly serrated and shaped to cut through tough material.
That anatomy makes their bites capable of producing devastating injuries.
Even a shark that is not exceptionally large can cause serious damage to a human limb.
Morita's encounter demonstrated that danger.
The shark had seized his right leg and was maintaining its grip.
The exact reason the animal approached him was not established.
It would be inaccurate to claim that the shark deliberately selected Morita as prey or followed him for an extended period without supporting evidence.
The known facts concern the attack itself.
The animal bit his leg.
It pulled him underwater.
And it resisted his attempts to escape.
A shark's power in the water comes from its muscular body and tail.
Those features allow it to move with force and change direction while swimming.
For a person caught in its jaws, that strength can make escape extremely difficult.
Morita was an experienced surfer, but experience does not make someone physically stronger than a shark.
His familiarity with the ocean could help him understand how to move and react.
It could not eliminate the animal's power.
The danger was made worse by the location of the injury.
The leg contains major muscles, blood vessels, nerves, and bones.
A severe bite can cause extensive tissue damage and potentially life-threatening blood loss.
Morita's right leg would ultimately require urgent medical treatment.
But during the attack, he could not focus on the full extent of the injury.
His immediate concern was escaping the animal.
And the shark was already pulling him beneath the surface.